A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century by Barbara W. Tuchman

"Wise, witty, and lovely . . . a good publication, in an excellent historic tradition." —CommentaryThe 14th century supplies us again contradictory photos: a glittering time of crusades and castles, cathedrals and chivalry, and a dismal time of ferocity and religious ache, a global plunged right into a chaos of battle, worry and the Plague. Barbara Tuchman anatomizes the century, revealing either the nice rhythms of background and the grain and texture of family lifestyles because it used to be lived.

12 months and one onerous home-renovation into their marriage, Ken and Bing head to the French geographical region to have a good time their long-delayed honeymoon, swearing they're getting out of the home-fixing enterprise for solid. after they fall in love with the village of los angeles Montagne Noire, they locate themselves deciding to buy a fixer-upper and beginning in all places again-but this time, in French!

"Wise, witty, and beautiful . . . an outstanding publication, in an outstanding old culture. " —CommentaryThe 14th century supplies us again contradictory pictures: a glittering time of crusades and castles, cathedrals and chivalry, and a depressing time of ferocity and non secular soreness, a global plunged right into a chaos of warfare, worry and the Plague.

To unnamed others who appeared briefly to lend a hand on my journey of seven years, my gratitude is equal. Maps and Illustrations Maps Europe in the 14th Century France after the Treaty of Brétigny, 1360 Italy in 1360 The Swiss Campaign, 1375–76 Nicopolis and Other Castles on the Danube (BN: Ms. Lat. 7239, fo. 113–14) Illustrations COLOR PLATES 1. The royal palace in Paris (BN: Ms. Fr. 23279, fo. 53) 2, 3. The Effects of Good Government, in the City and in the Country, by Ambrogio Lorenzetti (Scala/Editorial Photocolor Archives) 4.

The Battle of Poitiers 7. Decapitated France: The Bourgeois Rising and the Jacquerie Photo Insert 8. Hostage in England 9. Enguerrand and Isabella 10. Sons of Iniquity 11. The Gilded Shroud 12. Double Allegiance 13. Coucy’s War 14. England’s Turmoil 15. The Emperor in Paris 16. The Papal Schism Part Two 17. Coucy’s Rise 18. The Worms of the Earth Against the Lions 19. The Lure of Italy 20. A Second Norman Conquest 21. The Fiction Cracks 22. The Siege of Barbary 23. In a Dark Wood Photo Insert 24.